Opioid overdose antidote spray Narcan available nationwide at pharmacies over the counter
The company that makes Narcan says the medicine will cost about $45.
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The opioid overdose antidote spray Narcan is now available nationwide at pharmacies over the counter, but some say it comes at a hefty price.
The company that makes Narcan says the medicine will cost about $45.
Suzanne Soganics, of Hauppauge, says she is glad it's available over the counter but is concerned about the cost.
"Not everybody can afford this," says Soganics. "The people who are using substances and those of us that are trying to help, can't necessarily afford $45 to have a Narcan kit."
Soganics is a social worker for Outreach, an organization that helps individuals and families struggling with addiction and substance abuse. She's also a mother who lost her 30-year-old son to drug use.
"I understand addiction," says Soganics. "I understand it all too well and it's hard, it's very hard."
She says people buying Narcan over the counter should also be getting information about what to do after it's used.
"They're also getting it without training, so they don't know what to look for or what to do next," says Soganics.
Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, the vice president of Northwell Health's Emergency Medicine Addiction Services, says although it is monumental to have Narcan available in pharmacies, the price is a concern.
Both Kapoor and Soganics say it's important for people to remember that you can still get Narcan for free from many municipalities, organizations and some hospitals.
